[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Attaboy Derek - You showed me!

Go back and read the post tat mentioned you. I took your quote from the AMLU board and put it here. You wrote those words, remember? The gist was that if MiLB came across with more money soon, you guys could concentrate better on the game. I can go get the exact wors, but you and I know that the synopsis is accuarate. What in the world were you thinking when you typed those words? Your season ended and the contract exired in November. You should have had no problem focusing on the task. To imply otherwise would indicate that your dream is farther out of reach than you acknowledge.

Also, I complemented you and said that your talent may best be served locally if your colleagues walk away from their ST assignments. To say that I motivated you to achieve is about as pointless as lacking concentration on an MiLB field.

Lastly, I'me better versed than you suspect. I have contacts in the Minors home office still. I speak with Fitz' gang a few times a year and know a dozen guys in AA and AAA. I've been told about how the AMLU is demanding conduct penalties for coaches and players, better per diems and living arrangements for ST and a better transport allowance. Now, those things don't seem far fetched (well, sanctions for players and coaches does, but I don't want to hurt your feelings), but to say that we don't know what is going on is egotistical. While you were still in diapers, I was working my assignments in MiLB and we didn't have half the bennies you guys do. We ate and slept in my partner's car the first season. We had to buy our own gear and didn't make money teaching on the side. We ate, drank and slept our jobs. Complaining about three hour bull sessions after the game was not part of our psyche. We knew we were getting little pay, but we prayed that someone would recognize our talent for being greater than it really was.

You ask us to support our brothers - I will. I will not work those games, even if asked. However, some of my friends will and I will happily watch them. They deserve to work those games if you and your colleagues walk away. Asking them to stay away is not a sign of solidarity. When amateur umpires hold out for more money, you are nowhere to be seen. At the IACAO clinics, the MiLB guys walk around with a haughty arrogance that wasn't present when I was in the ranks. Admit it, you think you are above High SChool and College ball. The way things are going, you may need those games to pay your bills. When the AMLU starts getting supportive of amateur organization bargaining then you can request that replacements become scarce. Until then, you are in a poker game with a losing hand. MiLB has deep pockets and knows that they can exist with replacements. The turnstiles will still move because fans go to see the game, not the umpire. You guys won't have the same luxury, when you stop working, the checks stop coming. Mr. Roberts, et al should have folded and asked for a new deck.